High efficiency gaming machine

ABSTRACT

An energy efficient gaming machine includes a cabinet housing, one or more buttons positioned on the cabinet that are illuminated with light emitting diodes. The energy efficient gaming machine also includes one or more displays illuminated with one or more cold cathode lights, one or more light emitting diodes, or a combination thereof.

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BACKGROUND SUMMARY

Briefly, and in general terms, various embodiments are directed toenergy efficient gaming machines. In one embodiment, the energyefficient gaming machine comprises a cabinet housing a game, one or morebuttons and one or more displays positioned on the cabinet. The buttonsare illuminated with one or more light emitting diodes. The displays areilluminated with one or more light emitting diodes, one or morecold-cathode lights, or a combination thereof. In another embodiment,the energy efficient gaming machine comprises a cabinet having a reduceddepth. Additionally, the energy efficient gaming machine includes one ormore energy efficient computer components that are placed in an idlemode when not in use.

In another embodiment, methods of reducing energy consumption of agaming machine are disclosed herein. One method includes providing agaming machine with energy efficient displays and idling the computercomponents of the game after a predetermined period of inactivity.

Other features of the embodiments disclosed in this specification willbecome apparent from the following detailed description, taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate by way ofexample, the features of energy efficient gaming machines.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is front perspective view of one embodiment of an energyefficient gaming machine;

FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an energyefficient gaming machine; and

FIG. 3 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of an energyefficient gaming machine.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Various embodiments disclosed herein are directed to energy efficientgaming machines. The energy efficient gaming machines include energyefficient lighting for the illuminated displays or features of thegaming machine. These energy efficient lights include, but are notlimited to, light emitting diodes (LEDs) and cold cathode lights. Asthose skilled in the art will appreciate, LEDs are solid-statesemiconductors that emit light as a material is exposed to an electricalfield. As a solid-state device, LEDs exhibit reliability, durability,and a long lifetime (average lifetime approximately 100,000 hours). Coldcathode lights are tubular lights illuminated by passing an electricalcurrent through a gas or vapor. Cold cathode lights are energy efficientand do not emit large amounts of heat. Furthermore, cold cathode lightshave a substantial longevity and can generally last approximately 50,000hours. Accordingly, energy efficient gaming machines having LEDs or coldcathode lights require less maintenance because these lights have alonger lifespan as compared to traditional incandescent, neon, orfluorescent lights.

Additionally, the gaming machine may include one or more energyefficient computer components such as, but not limited to, a computerprocessor, hard drive, graphics processing unit, power supply,motherboard voltage regulator, or any combination thereof. In oneembodiment, the components are placed in an idle mode when not in use.By utilizing energy efficient components, the gaming machines are costeffective in terms of operating and maintaining the devices. Forinstance, energy efficient gaming machines do not generate as much heatenergy thereby reducing cooling costs for casinos. Additionally, theseenergy efficient gaming machines allow for smaller gaming machines,which increases the number of machines that may be placed in a givenarea. Furthermore, certain players may be attracted to and more likelyto play “environmentally friendly” gaming machines.

Referring now to FIG. 1, there is shown one embodiment of an energyefficient gaming machine. The gaming machine 10 includes a cabinet 11that houses one or more games. In various embodiments, the games may bemechanical slots, video slots, video poker, video blackjack, video keno,lotteries, or any combination thereof. The cabinet 11 houses one or moredisplays 14 for the game. In one embodiment, the displays 14 areopenings that show the mechanical reels for a slot machine. In anotherembodiment, the display 14 may be a CRT or a panel display such as, butnot limited to, a liquid crystal, plasma, electroluminescent, vacuumfluorescent, field emission, or any other type of panel display known ordeveloped in the art.

In one embodiment, the cabinet 11 is a self-standing unit that isgenerally rectangular in shape. However, it is appreciated that anyshaped gaming cabinet may be used. In another embodiment, the cabinet 31may be a table top-style gaming cabinet as shown in FIG. 2. Referringback to FIG. 1, the cabinet 11 has a reduced depth (d) as a result ofutilizing energy efficient lights and computer components. Specifically,the length of the side walls 21 of the cabinet 11 is shorter than theside walls 121 of traditional gaming machines 110. The shorter length ofthe side walls 21 results in a gaming cabinet 11 having a reduced depththan conventional gaming machine cabinets 111. These energy efficientcomponents also minimize heat generation thereby allowing for thesmaller cabinet size, as a large volume of space is not required forcooling the components. Accordingly, using one or more of the slimcabinets 11 to house a game permits a casino to increase revenue byallowing for more gaming machines in a given area. In anotherembodiment, a gaming cabinet 111 may be a traditional gaming machinecabinet (as shown in FIG. 3) that has energy efficient lights 113originally installed therein or retrofitted.

Again, as shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 11 includes a coin tray 18positioned at the base of the cabinet, a mechanical lever 19 to actuatethe reels, and a convenience light 20 positioned on top of the cabinet.The convenience light 20 is generally used to notify casino personnelthat the patron or the gaming machine needs attention. For instance, thelight may flash when a player has won a jackpot or the light may beconstantly lit if a patron has requested service. In one embodiment, theconvenience light 20 is illuminated with one or more LEDs. In anotherembodiment, the convenience light 20 is illuminated with one or morecold cathode lights.

The cabinet 11 also includes a “top glass” area 12 and a “belly glass”area 17 to hold displays (not shown) for the gaming machine 10. In oneembodiment, the top glass area 12 or belly glass area 17 may include thetitle of the game. In another embodiment, the top glass area 12 mayinclude one or more payout tables for winning combinations. In yetanother embodiment, at least one of the top glass area 12 and the bellyglass area 17 display some type of advertising. In the embodiment shownin FIG. 1, the top glass area 12 is shown with two cold cathode lights13 and the belly glass area 17 is shown with one cold cathode light. Asthose skilled in the art will appreciate, the top glass area 12 and thebelly glass area 17 can have any number of cold cathode lights 13. Asshown in FIG. 1, the cold cathode lights 13 are generally straighttubes. Alternatively, in other embodiments, the cold cathode light tubesare bent into any shape or desired configuration known or developed inthe art. Optionally, in another embodiment, the cold cathode lights 13can have any light color known or developed in the art. In anotherembodiment, the top glass area 12 and/or the belly glass area 17 caninclude one or more LEDs in addition to one or more cold cathode lights13.

As shown in FIG. 1, the cabinet 11 includes a playing deck 15 thathouses a plurality of buttons 16. Generally, the buttons 16 are made ofplastic or other material and include markings to denote the function ofthe buttons 16. For instance, these markings may include, but are notlimited to, “spin”, “max bet”, “1 line”, “3 lines”, “5 lines”, or thelike. In one embodiment, the buttons 16 are backlit with one or moreLEDs. Accordingly, when a button 16 is depressed, the button is lit bythe LEDs. When the game is in an idle state, the buttons 16 may be litby the LEDs or, alternatively, the buttons 16 may intermittently flashin other embodiments.

Of course, one of ordinary skill in the art will appreciate that not allgaming machines 10 will have all these components and may have othercomponents in addition to or in lieu of those components mentioned here.Furthermore, while these components are viewed and described separately,various components may be a single unit in some embodiments.

In another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 includes one or more energyefficient components. These energy efficient components include, but arenot limited to, a central processing unit (CPU), hard drive, graphicsprocessing unit, power supply, motherboard voltage regulator, coolingfan, or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the CPU has an idlemode (i.e., time when the processor is not in use) of approximately 50 Wto 100 W. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, CPUs having loweridle parameters are more efficient and use less electricity.Furthermore, the more readily the CPU enters an idle mode the moreenergy efficient the system.

In another embodiment, the energy efficient component is the internalpower supply. In one embodiment, the power supply is at least 70%efficient at various different rated outputs (e.g., 20%, 50%, and 100%).As those skilled in the art will appreciate, a power supply having agreater efficiency rating at different rated outputs can be used in thegaming machine.

In one embodiment, the energy efficient component is the motherboardvoltage regulator. The motherboard voltage regulator converts inputvoltages from the power supply to the various voltages required by theCPU. Accordingly, the efficiency at which the motherboard voltageregulator converts the input voltages can affect the overall gamingmachine efficiency. In one embodiment, the motherboard voltage regulatoris at least approximately 75% to approximately 85% efficient. In anotherembodiment, the motherboard voltage regulator is approximately 90%efficient. As those skilled in the art will appreciate, it iscontemplated that the motherboard voltage regulator may have varyingefficiencies from those specifically disclosed herein, but it isdesirable to have a highly efficient component that is cost-effective.

In yet another embodiment, the energy efficient component is thegraphics processing unit (GPU). In one embodiment, the GPU would have alow energy usage during an idle phase. In another embodiment, the GPUincludes a dynamic power management feature that allows for real-timecontrol of power consumption while the component is operating. Forinstance, the amount of power supplied to a component may be minimizedduring a brief idle period or during execution of tasks that requirelower power or performance. As those skilled in the art will appreciate,the dynamic power management feature may be used for other componentssuch as, but not limited to, the CPU.

When the components are not in use after a period of inactivity, thecomponent can be placed in an idle mode where the component utilizesvery little energy. For instance, if the game is not in use, the harddrive and the CPU or GPU are placed in an idle mode to conserve energy.In another embodiment, the gaming machine 10 may include flash memory orother solid-state, nonvolatile, memory such as, but not limited toEPROM, EEPROM, or DRAM. The flash memory includes data and instructionsto operate the “attract mode” of the gaming machine 11 therebypermitting the computer processor, hard drive, and graphics processingunits to be idled when a game is not played. That is, the flash memorycan control the various features such as sound, lights, or animation toattract players to a gaming machine.

The various embodiments described above are provided by way ofillustration only and should not be construed to limit the invention.Those skilled in the art will readily recognize various modificationsand changes that may be made to the claimed invention without followingthe example embodiments and applications illustrated and describedherein, and without departing from the true spirit and scope of theclaimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims.

1. An energy efficient gaming machine, comprising: a cabinet housing;one or more buttons positioned on the cabinet, wherein the buttons areilluminated with one or more light emitting diodes; and one or moredisplays on the cabinet illuminated with one or more light emittingdiodes, one or more cold-cathode lights, or a combination thereof. 2.The energy efficient gaming machine of claim 1, wherein the displays area top glass, a belly glass, or a combination thereof.
 3. The energyefficient gaming machine of claim 1, further comprising one or moreconvenience lights illuminated with one or more light emitting diodes.4. The energy efficient gaming machine of claim 1, further comprisingone or more computer components, wherein at least one computer componentis placed in an idle mode when not in use.
 5. The energy efficientgaming machine of claim 4, wherein the computer component is a computerprocessor unit, hard drive, graphics processing unit, power supply,motherboard voltage regulator, cooling fan, or a combination thereof. 6.An energy efficient gaming machine, comprising: a slim cabinet housing;one or more buttons positioned on the slim cabinet housing, wherein oneor more buttons are illuminated with one or more light emitting diodes;one or more displays positioned on the slim cabinet housing, wherein thedisplays are illuminated with one or more cold cathode lights, one ormore light emitting diodes, or a combination thereof; and one or moreenergy efficient computer components, wherein the computer componentsare placed in an idle mode when not in use.
 7. The energy efficientgaming machine of claim 6, wherein the displays are a top glass, a bellyglass, or a combination thereof.
 8. The energy efficient gaming machineof claim 6, further comprising one or more convenience lights, whereinthe convenience lights are illuminated with one or more light emittingdiodes.
 9. The energy efficient gaming machine of claim 6, wherein thecomputer component is a computer processing unit, hard drive, graphicsprocessing unit, power supply, motherboard voltage regulator, or acombination thereof.
 10. A method of reducing energy consumption by agaming machine, comprising: providing a gaming machine comprising energyefficient lighting; and idling one or more computer components providedin the gaming machine after a period of inactivity.
 11. The method ofclaim 10, wherein the energy efficient lighting is one or more lightemitting diodes, one or more cold cathode lights, or a combinationthereof.
 12. The method of claim 10, wherein the one or more computercomponents are a processor, hard drive, graphics processing unit, powersupply, motherboard voltage regulator, or a combination thereof.